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V. COLVIN. DEVICE FOR STRETGHING SKINS.` N0. 66,565. Patented July 9, 1867.Y

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VERPLANGK CULV-IN, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK Letters Patent No. 66,565, dated July 9, 1.867.

IMPOVED DEVICE FOR STRBTOHING AND DRYING SKINS.

To ALL WHoM IT MAY coNc'EnN:

Be it known that I, VERPLANCK Convrrnof Albany, city and county, and State of New York, have invented a Utensil for the better Stretching and Drying of the Skins of such animals as the mink, marten, fisher, Src., or for the skins of such otheranimals as it may be adapted to and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in forming a lightrframework of wire or bamboo, o r other suitable material, braced by cross-pieces at proper intervals, 'over which the skin to' be stretched and dried (having been taken from the animal so as to form a sort of long bag, with the hair or fur inside) is drawn. The stretcher bein'g adaptedrto the size of the skin, and the skin `fastened to the stretcher, itmay then be hung upto dry.

To enable others who may be authorized to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its con'- strnction andopera-tion. V

I bind the wire, &c., much as shown at Figure 1, a a a a a a a a a a a, twisting it at d and al in small rings, through which cords may be passed and attached to the skin to tie it down and keep it taut upon the frame, so that it cannot shrink. The small teeth or nicks e and e may be used foi the same purpose when the skin is long, small ends of the skin being brought down and tied fast. The teeth prevent the cords from slipping. I finish one end of the frame in the hook c, by which the frame may be hung up while the skin is drying.. I then attach pieces of tin (soldering them fast) so as to form sockets, into which the ends of the braces b b are inserted. These sockets keep thc braces from gettingout f position, and also prevent them from slipping* Figure 2 gives a separate view of a movable brace, which, as may be seen, is easily lengthened or shortened.

Itecnsists of arci'f, and a receiver, g, werking one'wi'thinthe other-'by means oth'e screw-threads cut upon the rod, and within the receiven l By turning the rod f so las to'increase' the length of the braces, the width ofthe frame may also be increased, and vice versa.

Figure 3 shows a spring-brace, which may replace the brace before shown, if preferred. The elasticity or spring of the brace is suicient to 'stretch the skin as much as maybe required. i

I design by my invention to replace the rude stretchers or drying-frames made by trappers from shingles, or the bent boughs of trees. The advantages I claim are, iirst, its convenience, being portable, light, and strong, and not apt to get broken; second, it gives a better and more regular shape to the skin, drying it in -the shape which has been found best, according to the shape and size of the animal, thus rendering the pelt more salable third, the open wire frame permits the air to pass within the skin, causing it to dry more rapidly; and when the skin isidry the frame may be withdrawn and used again, one of these frames doing the work of many heavy, brittle boardstretchers. This end is also subserved bythe adjustable braces, which, by being adaptable to any slight variation in the skin, obviate the necessity of `carrying an unwieldy bulk of lai-gc and small-sized boards, stretchers, lite.

I propose to construct these drying-frames of different sizes, suited to the sort of animal for which they are intended, as mink size, musquash size, otter size, 8vo.

What I claim as my invention, and-desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The light frame of wire or bamboo, or other suitable material, braced substantially as shown in drawings 3' also the rings d d, the teeth e ve, and lthe hook c, for the purposes hereinbefore mentioned, essentiallyyas before shown and described.

I do not claim the old-fashioned board or bough-stretcher; bu't'I do claim the light, portabie, and adjustable" wire or bamboo, &c., drying-frame and stretcher, as aforesaid.

N. B.'The aforesaid braces may he either xed or movable; Fixed, when the extremities of the braces are welded or otherwise fastened to the frame, (the braces may be either simple crossbars of wire, or spring-braces, lm.)

Movable, when the braces are not .welded or otherwise fastened to the frame, and the ends merely t into their sockets, and may be taken 'out and adjusted, lengthened, or shortened, to suit size of skin. f

. VERPLANCK COLVIN.

Witnesses: I i

DANIEL J. Tuna, Gao. D. HILL. 

